Dr. Dre was easily already one of the most successful producers in the history of hip hop by the time "The Chronic" came out. His career had already spanned almost a decade, which was extraordinary in those days.

"Illmatic" was Nas's debut album.



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Bottom line, for you to ask if Dr. Dre's career could possibly be the same without "The Chronic"... NO, of course it couldn't or wouldn't be the same. It's the most simplistic and obvious question you could've possibly asked, and you could say the same thing about his career and "Straight Outta Compton"... or "2001."